Glendale, Ariz.- Arizona Christian University announces Tiger Shelton as the new Head Coach of the Firestorm Women's Volleyball Program, succeeding Micah Briscoe, who is stepping down after eight impactful years at the helm. Briscoe will be transitioning to a new opportunity with his family's business.
Coach Briscoe's tenure since 2016 was marked by both program growth and spiritual influence. He led the Firestorm to their first GSAC playoff appearance in 2017, helped launch both the women's beach volleyball and men's volleyball programs at ACU, and has been a cornerstone in shaping the spiritual culture within the Firestorm athletic department. Briscoe leaves the program with the most wins and longest tenured coach in ACU Women's Volleyball history.
As ACU looks to the future, the Firestorm will be led by Tiger Shelton, who brings nearly four decades of coaching experience and a championship pedigree. Shelton served the Firestorm as Assistant Coach in 2024-25, and has been active in recruitment for the program over the past year. Prior to his time in Glendale, he previously led Jessup University to its first-ever GSAC Championship and NAIA Opening Round appearance (2022).
"We are thrilled to appoint Coach Shelton to this opportunity," said Dr. Peter Dryer, Director of Athletics. "He's a seasoned leader with deep roots in the game, and he understands what it means to lead both on the court and in our mission as a Christ-centered university. Tiger and Micah served well together this past year, and he is set up well to hit the ground running for this season!"
A Proven Track Record of Excellence
Shelton's coaching journey spans club, high school, junior college, collegiate, and international levels. He co-founded and directed the Pacific Coast Volleyball Club (PCVC) in Stockton, CA —an elite-level club program with a strong developmental record. His honors include:
- GSAC Coach of the Year
- AVCA Regional Coach of the Year
- 19 Scholar-Athletes
- 1 NAIA All-American
- 2 NAIA Postseason Appearances
- 5 Consecutive CIF Titles at Ripon Christian
- Multiple "Coach of the Year" honors in California high school leagues
With a coaching style that combines enthusiasm, strategic knowledge, and relational leadership, Shelton is known for building championship-level teams and strong team cultures.
What Others are Saying About Coach Shelton
Shelton's reputation across the volleyball landscape is widely respected. Colleagues and peers offered glowing endorsements:
"I am so excited for Tiger! He is a very experienced, successful coach and a wonderful person. He is a player's coach, he will always put their needs first. I look forward to following the Arizona Christian team, he will do a wonderful job."
— John Dunning, Former Head Volleyball Coach, Stanford University
"Tiger Shelton is a seasoned professional in the sport of coaching volleyball. Experienced in the strategies, techniques and mental preparation it takes to develop and sustain a championship culture, Tiger is a proven winner."
— Jennifer Petrie, Head Volleyball Coach, University of San Diego
"Tiger Shelton will bring many years of experience to Arizona Christian along with the ability to recruit and compete. His ability to relate to his team along with the support staff and others at Arizona Christian will pay dividends for all. He will develop individual players skills, develop teamwork and help them grow as people. He will lead with passion and enthusiasm keeping all in perspective."
— Jolene Nagel, Head Volleyball Coach, Duke University
"Tiger is one of the biggest students of the game. He is a constant learner and a fiery competitor. His love for Jesus and passion for the sport of volleyball will bring Arizona Christian to an unmatched level. There is no better person or coach to lead Arizona Christian."
— Mike Becker, Assistant Coach, West Virginia University
"Tiger Shelton has so many great qualities as a volleyball coach. His experience, passion and knowledge of the game makes Tiger a top coach. Add to those qualities, his caring for his players, team and staff makes Tiger an exceptional quality coach!"
— Debbie Green, Olympic Silver Medalist and U.S. Volleyball Hall of Famer
Ready for What's Next
Shelton now resides in Anthem, Arizona, with his wife Michelle, who also coaches competitive volleyball. They have two children, Andie and Tyson.
"I'm honored and humbled to lead this next chapter of Firestorm Volleyball," Shelton shared. "I'm thankful for the work Coach Briscoe has done to build this foundation, and I'm excited to help our team grow in faith, compete with excellence, and pursue something greater than ourselves."
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a big year for Firestorm Volleyball—and Coach Shelton is ready to lead the charge.
Coach Shelton can be reached at tiger.shelton@arizonachristian.edu
**About Arizona Christian University**
Arizona Christian University is an accredited, private, non-profit, Christian university in sunny Glendale, Arizona offering a wide variety of degrees preparing students for successful careers, while remaining committed to its vision of transforming culture with biblical truth. Students actively engage in biblically-integrated academics and gain a liberal arts foundation with critical thinking skills that last a lifetime. Arizona Christian draws students from more than 40 states and 30 countries, and the Firestorm compete athletically in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). For more information about ACU and how to apply for admission, visit arizonachristian.edu.
